Four Elements Herbals holds Open Farm Day
Back in 2021 I wrote an article about Four Herbal Elements in North Freedom Wisconsin. Owned and operated by Jane Stevens with the help of her husband David, Jane, along with her family and team, recently held an open farm day. (Click here for the 2021 article)
According to Four Elements Organic Herbals (4E) website, Four Elements has developed a complete herbal wellness line. Established in 1987, but specializing in herbs since 1982, Stevens has been growing and using these effective plants, grown in the Pristine Baraboo Bluffs of Wisconsin on her and her husband David's 130-acre certified organic farm. They have been certified organic since 1990 and take great care to cultivate sustainably, offering organic matter to the soil every year, which gives them food, herbs, beauty, and fresh air.
Four Elements Herbals produce a variety of herbal products that include; Functional Creams, Handmade Soaps, Herbal Teas, Herbal Tinctures, Liniment & Salves, Facial Toner, Lip Balms, Body Oils, Hydrosols, Deodorants, and Outdoor Body Sprays.
Jane uses the event to help educate on the benefits of healing that the Earth provides and make available some of natures goodness to help live a healthier life. Not the first open farm event she has held, Jane said, “So, I held it right from the start. I guesstimate that I probably have done this 30 times since 1993”.
Jane though, is looking to switch gears a bit and reevaluate if the open farm day will evolve into something else. “I'm in my mid 60s and the energy it takes to pull it together is a stress on our family. So, what I want to do instead is just have classes here, maybe smaller groups, maybe for the weekend. My vision is to still connect people to nature. I'm going to be publishing a book in November, so I can really, you know, capture my place as a teacher. But I think a better segue for me is to just have classes maybe during the week or evenings and get people who want to learn about herbs to join me for classes here at the farm.
Even with her and David’s years of hard work put into their business, Jane acknowledged it would not be possible without her team of seven. Lisa who has been with 4E the over 20 years, their daughters Savanna and Sylvie, Mindy, Liz, and Maria. Keeping the business end of things running smooth is 4E’s office manager Kris.
Helping round out the open farm day were a few invited vendors; Happy Hill Sugar Bush, The Relish Tray Bistro & Speakeasy, and the Madison Chapter of the Weston A. Price Foundation for Wise Traditions in food, farming and the healing arts.
The use of herbs Jane said is “my vision for life”. They are important to her because of her experiences of how she sees nature as the ultimate healer, in all forms. “That could be light, you know, the planets, the earth itself, any of the elements, water, the transformative power of fire, you know, just on and on.” Jane sees such potent healing coming from nature and believes she lives in a culture that doesn't even acknowledge that their life is coming from nature. “I see my job as a super important teacher of trying to make that connection, at least for people who are open and curious about any of those things. So, as long as I'm alive, I hope that I can fulfill this mission of trying to connect people back to nature as the source of healing.”
Visit Four Elements Herbals website or Facebook page. Watch the video short of the Four Elements Herbals Farm below.
